Method and apparatus for emulating an OS-supported communication device to enable remote debugging

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a remote server management controller that is adapted to be incorporated into a managed server. The disclosed embodiments allow a remote user to communicate with the managed server using out-of-band management communications that are not dependent on the OS of the managed server. The user may obtain management data from the OS or perform other functions remotely by causing the managed server to redirect data from its local communications interfaces to communications interfaces that are available to the remote user.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A remote server management controller, comprising: 
 an external communication interface adapted to receive data from a remote user;    an IOP adapted to: 
 receive data from the external communication interface; and  
 transmit data corresponding to the data received from the external communication interface to an OS of a managed server; and  
   a VCD interface adapted to intercept data received from the OS, the data received from the OS being intended for a specific communication interface, and to redirect the data received from the OS to the remote user via the external communication interface instead of directing the data received from the OS to the specific communication interface.    
     
     
         2 . The remote server management controller of  claim 1 , wherein the specific communication interface is a UART interface of the managed server.  
     
     
         3 . The remote server management controller of  claim 1 , wherein the specific communication interface is a USB host controller of the managed server.  
     
     
         4 . The remote server management controller of  claim 1 , wherein data received from the user over the external communication interface is transmitted to the OS of the managed server via a UART interface.  
     
     
         5 . The remote server management controller of  claim 1 , wherein data received from the user over the external communication interface is transmitted to the OS of the managed server via a USB interface.  
     
     
         6 . The remote server management controller of  claim 1 , wherein the specific communication interface is a 1394 interface of the managed server.  
     
     
         7 . The remote server management controller of  claim 1 , wherein data received from the user over the external communication interface is transmitted to the OS of the managed server via a 1394 interface.  
     
     
         8 . The remote server management controller of  claim 1 , wherein the external communication interface is an Ethernet interface.  
     
     
         9 . A remote server management controller, comprising: 
 an IOP adapted to monitor interrupt data transmitted from an SIO to a southbridge, to alter the interrupt data transmitted from the SIO based on input received from an external user via an external communication interface and to transmit the altered interrupt data to a managed server; and    a VCD adapted to: 
 intercept responsive data intended to be transmitted to the SIO in response to the altered interrupt data; and  
 prevent the responsive data from reaching the SIO.  
   
     
     
         10 . The remote server management controller of  claim 9  wherein the VCD is further adapted to route the responsive data to the remote user via the external communication interface.  
     
     
         11 . The remote server management controller of  claim 9  wherein the input received from the external user is adapted to emulate an interrupt generated by a device in the managed server.  
     
     
         12 . The remote server management controller of  claim 9  wherein the external communication interface is an Ethernet interface.  
     
     
         13 . A method of remotely retrieving data from an OS, the method comprising the acts of: 
 receiving a request for OS information from a remote user;    transmitting the request for OS information to the OS;    receiving data responsive to the act of transmitting the request to the OS, the data being intended for a specific communication interface;    redirecting the data received from the OS responsive to the act of transmitting the request to the OS to the remote user instead of to the specific communication interface.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the specific communication interface is a UART interface.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the specific communication interface is a USB interface.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the specific communication interface is a 1394 interface.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the act of enabling an Ethernet interface to receive the request for OS information.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the act of initiating an out-of-band management communication session.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising the act of enabling a VCD to transmit the request for OS information to the OS.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the recited acts are performed in the recited order.